Introduction to Systems Biology – 3 credits/semester
The course will guide students into a biology world as seen by engineers, physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists. We will discuss topics such as:
- What is a predictive mathematical model?
- Which kinds of models describe biological reality?
- What are a dynamical behavior, stability, switching and stochasticity of a biological system?
- What resources do you need to start building a model?
- How models are stored, simulated and visualized?
- What are public databases and software tools available for a modeler?
The ultimate goal of the course is to provide students with necessary background to read modeling papers, choose Systems Biology resources that will help them in biological projects, and be able to select an appropriate modeling technique to be used with a biological project. There are no prerequisites for the course. The grading will be based on student presentations and home assignments.
Time: Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: 400 Farmington Avenue (Google Maps), CAM Large Conference Room R1673
Method of Evaluation: Presentations and Homework.
Contact: Michael Blinov, blinov@uchc.edu.
Course Website: https://sysbiocourse.wordpress.com
Cell Analysis & Modeling Journal Club – 1 credit/semester
Criteria for Good Presentation
- Choose title carefully - it has to reflect what you're talking about.
- While talking about math or physics, always explain connection to biological problems.
- Be careful with figures you include into your presentation. Always say and/or include on the slide with a figure:
- axis with units, title of a figure, small caption if title is not enough
- scale of an image, if applicable
- Be prepare to explain all image features, such as dark or bright spots, whether these are image artifacts or do they actually mean anything.
- Double check each formula you introduce - whether you want to include it in your presentation. If you include it, you should:
- say and/or include on the slide name and definition of all functions you introduce, such as "stream function";
- say few words about physical or biological meaning of each formula and/or parameter;
- explain each letter included into the formula. Say whether it is a vestor or scalar, what are units for a scalar, what is a direction for a vector, what all subscripts and superscripts mean, etc.
- Don't make slides overloaded! Don't include too many formulas on a single slide - make two to three slides.
- Include the same picture on several slides if it helps in understanding formulas.